Improvement in row-locks



Y.A.,E. BROCKETT.

improvement in Row Locks.

N0. 122,556. I Patented Jan.9,1872.

fly. 1.

A l L I 4 mun -mam m ATWATER E. BROCKETT, NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN ROW-LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 122,556, dated J annary 9, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ATWATER E. BROCKETT, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Row-Locks; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawing constitutes part of this specification, and represents, in

Figure 1, a side view; Fig. 2, a top view; Fig. 3, a longitudinal central section; and in Fig. 4, a transverse central section.

This'invention relates to an improvement in row-locks for boats, the object being to give to the lock an elasticity which relieves the oarsman and aids in recovering the oar; and the invention consists in the arrangement of the block, in which the lock is pivoted, in a suitable guide to retain it in a vertical position, and combined with a spring bearing up upon, each end, so that as the car is drawn back it will depress one of the springs in proportion to the power applied.

A is the block, to which the lock B is pivoted so as to turn freely thereon, and the said block arranged between suitable guides C, and sustained in position by projections extending into grooves a in the sides. The block A extends fore and aft, and rests upon springs D at each end. These springs, by preference, I

make from a block of India rubber, as denoted in solid black, Fig. 3, or of other suitable material, and these may be adjusted by wedges F, or otherwise, to increase or diminish the strength of the spring.

As the oarsman draws back on the oar, say to the right, as seen in Fig. 3, the spring under the end of the block will yield, as denoted in broken lines, giving to the car, so soon as the power shall be relieved, a slight forward motion, which greatly facilitates the recovering of the car, and the introduction of elastic ma terial in this manner also, to a great extent, tends to deaden the sound occasioned by the operation of the oars. This device is secured to the boat in the usual manner.

While I prefer India-rubber springs, as represented, yet springs of other character may be arranged to take the bearing upon the block A in the same manner; 'I therefore do not confine myself to the use of India-rubber springs.

I claim as my invention-- The arrangement of the block A, with the lock B pivoted thereto, in the guides C, and provided with springs D, the whole constructed and arranged in the manner substantially as described.

ATWATER E. BROCKETT.

Witnesses:

A. J. TIBBITS, J. H. SHUMWAY. 

